Pneumatic gun



W. B. HALE PNEUMATIC GUN Sept. 12, 1944.

Filed Aug. 19, 1941 5 Sheets-Shea?I 1 W/L//w 5. HALE,

INVENTOR W. B. HALE PNEUMATIC GUN Sept. 12, 1944.

Filed Aug. 19, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR yhlnl IIMIVMWVH? m W. B.HALE PNEUMATIC GUN Sept. 12, 1944.

Filed Aug. 19, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 v5 Sheets-Sheet 4 W. B. HALEPNEUMATIC GUN Filed Aug. 19, 1941 Sept. 12, 1944.

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Sept. l2, 1944. w, B, HALE PNEUMATIC GUN Filed Aug. 19, 1941 -5Sheetsf-Sheet 5 INVENTQR rroR/vfxs.

Patented Sept. i12, i9

PNEUMATC GUN Application August 19, 1941, Serial No. 407,427

18 (Malina.`

This invention relates to a duid-operated or pneumatic gun, and thegeneral object of the invention is to produce a gun of this type, whichis so constructed as to enable it to fire projectiles at a relativelyhigh rate per minute, and with a high muzzle velocity.

One of the objects of the invention is to produce a gun of this typethat will be automatic in operation and capable of firing a continuousstream of projectiles as long as the control member or trigger of thegun is held in position for operating the gun. y

A further object of the invention is` to provide a construction whichwill enable a reservoir carrying compressed air or a source ofcompressed ga's to be employed, associated with a magazine for carryinga considerable supply of projectiles;

also to construct the reservoir and magazine for the projectiles in sucha way that it can be handled as a unit, and readily connected'up intooperative connection With the gun.

A further object of the invention is to provide automatic means foreffecting the feed of the projectiles into the air chamber of the gun,preparatory to propelling the same through the barrel.

In its preferred embodiment, the gun includes a breech from which a postprojects downwardly to operate as a handle for moving the gun whenaiming the same; and one of the objects of this invention is to providea construction enabling this handle to be utilized as means forconducting the projectiles and, if desired, also conducting thecompressed air to the breech of the gun.

In the preferred embodiment of the gun, the breech is provided withmeans for temporarily holding a projectile to be fired at the forwardside of the air chamber from which the air stream operates to iire theprojectile through the gun barrel; and one of the objects of thisinvention is to provide improved means for controlling the operation ofthis projectile detent so as to regulate the same, and so as to enableit to operate to fire project-iles in rapid succession. In thisconnection, one of the objects is to attain a mode of operation for theprojectile detent, which will enable a continuous stream of theprojectiles to be carried on the air stream passing through the barrel,in such a way as to enable a plurality of projectiles to pass throughthe barrel at the same time.

A further object of the invention is to provide means associated withthe projectile detent for adjusting the same from the exterior of thegun.

Further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

'Ihe invention consists in the novel parts and combination of parts tobe described hereinafter, all of which contribute to produce anefficient pneumatic gun.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in the followingspecification, while the broad scope of the invention is pointed out inthe appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the complete gun set up on its tripod.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a clamping head which is connected withthe breech of the gun, and affords means for connecting up the unitaryair reservoir and magazine. In this view the duct for the projectile andfor the air are shown broken away.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section broken away, passing throughthe gun barrel, the breech of the gun, and through the air reservoir andmagazine for the projectiles. In this view the lower portion of thetripod supporting the gun, is broken away.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, upon a larger scale but merelyillustrating the breech of the gun with its connections to the inner endof the air reservoir and projectile magazine. This View shows theforward end of the magazine, air reservoir, and gun barrel broken away.It also illustrates the parts in firing position with the gun triggerdepressed. and with Valves open for continuously supplying compressedair to the gun from the reservoir.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal horizontal section taken through the apparatusabout on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4, and particularly illustrating thecontrol valve for controlling the admission of the compressed air intothe .gun from the air reservoir, including the Valve for admittingcompressed air from the reservoir into the projectile magazine foradvancing or assisting in advancing the projectiles to the gun breechfrom the magazine.

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4, and6 6 of Fig. 5, looking outwardly toward the muzzle of the gun.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken about on the line 1 1 of Fig. 4, andparticularly illustrating a preferred embodiment of the means forcontrolling the action of the projectile detent that determines therelease of the projectile into or through the barrel.

Referring to the parts of the apparatus, and

particularly to Fig. 1, the entire gun assembly is preferably mounted ona suitable frame o`r tripod I to swivel on a vertical axis at the bolt2, and on horizontal pivots or trunnions 3 at each side. It should beunderstood, however, that the gun can be mounted in any desired manner.

Referring to Fig. 1 and Fig. 3, the equipment includes a reservoir 4 forthe compressed air or other operating gas or fluid, which reservoir ispreferably enveloped in a shell 5 that operates as protective housingfor a projectile magazine. This magazine is preferably in the form of acoil, piece of tubing of slightly larger diameter than the projectiles.This reservoir has sufficient strength to withstand the high pressure ofthe air under which the gun operates. The outer end of the reservoir hasa head 1, which may be provided with a coaxial extension 3 that supportsthe gun barrel 9 on an arm I0 having a hub on the gun barrel andextending down from the same. The inner end of the reservoir 4 isconnected up to a valved head I I carrying valves that will be describedin detail later, which valves enable air and projectiles to be deliveredfrom the reservoir and from the magazine through a casing I2 and aclamping head I3, to a clamping head I4, the latter of which ispermanently connected with the gun proper and the former of which iscarried with the compressed air'and magazine unit.

In the operation of the gun, the air and projectiles pass through theseclamping heads I3 and I4 and up through a post I5 at the rear of the gunbreech I6, where `the projectiles are brought into line with the gunbarrel 3.

A quick detachable clamping connection I1 is provided for clamping theclamping heads I3 and I4 together, said connection including two leversI3 (see Fig. 5). The construction and operation of this clampingconnection will be described more fully hereinafter.

'I'he general construction of the gun breech and the parts immediatelyconnected therewith, will now be described, reference being hadparticularly to Figs. 3 and 4.

The gun breech includes a body I9 back of which the breech block 20 islocated, and within this breech block an air chamber 2| is formed, intowhich the projectiles 22 are delivered. In the normal position of thegun, when it is ready to be fired as shown in Fig. 3, the projectileindcated specifically by the reference numeral 22a, is held temporarilyagainst being fired by means of an expansible projectile detent 23. Thisprojectile'detent is contractible from its expanded state and isnormally held against expanding by means that is controlled at will tofire the gun. In other words, if the operating means or trigger of thegun is not operated, the projectile 22a will maintain itself on theair-tight seat 24 of the projectile detent.

While this projectile detent 23 may be of any desired construction, inthe present instance it 25 and beyond the seat 24, is formed into anoutwardly flaring delivery mouth 21, the well of which terminates in atapered annular tip or edge 28. This edge 23 is engaged by means capableof pressing the rear end of the nave forwardly so as to control theresistance to passing of the projectile 22a through the small end of theconical opening 23 into which the projectile passes. The means I preferto employ for this purpose, consists of a sleeve 23, the rear end ofwhich has an annular groove 3II to 'receive the tapering tip 23. Meanscontrolled at will is provided for controlling the action of this sleeve23. For this purpose,`the sleeve 23 is provided with an outwardlyprojecting collar presenting an annular shoulder 3|, and this shoulder,in the position of rest of theapparatus shown in Fig. 3, is located justforward of a movable stop in the form of a yoke 32. This yoke is shownin detail in Fig. 7. In Fig. 3 this yoke is shown in its restrainingposition in which its rear face projects across the shoulder 3| of thecollar 23. In Fig. 4 the yoke is shown in a downwardly drawn positionwhich removes it from the path of the shoulder 3|, thereby permittingthe sleeve 23 to move toward the left as viewed in Fig. 4, that is tosay, toward the muzzle of the gun. This releases the constraint on thenave of the projectile detent 23 and permits it to expand sufficientlyto let the projectile 22a Apass through into the bore of a guide barrel33 that is located just forward oi' the air chamber 2|, and which is inperfect alignment with the gun barrel 3. This sleeve 23 slides on therear end of the guide barrel 33. When the gun is fired, the yoke 32 ispulled down by a pin 34, the lower end of which is operated by a lever35 operated by the `trigger 33 of the gun which is pivoted just back dfthe lever. Ihe coil spring 31 around the pin 34 exerts its force to pushthe yoke 32 back in front of the shoulder 3| when the sleeve 23 movesback to its normal position. This sleeve is returned to its normalposition by the coil spring 33 mounted around the guide barrel 33. Theforward end of the spring 33 thrusts against an adjustable nut 33 havinga threaded opening through it, riding on a thread 43 formed on theexterior of the guide barrel 33. In order to keep the nut from rotating,its opposite sides are provided with set screws 4|, the heads of whichrun in grooves 42 respectively.

extending longitudinally in the bore of a cap 43 that forms the forwardend oi' the breech I3 of the gun. In order to adjust the nut 39, ofcourse the guide barrel 33 must be rotated on its axis, and in order toaccomplish this, the forward end of the cap 43 is provided with a swivelring 44 having radial set screws 45 that secure it to a forwardlyextending sleeve 43 that is formed integrally with the forward end ofthe guide barrel 33.

The rear end of the sleeve 23 seats in a metal bushing 41 that carriesthe outer portion or body 43 of the projectile detent 23.

The rear end of the projectile detent 23 is formed with a conical tip 43that is received in an undercut bore in a heavy breech plate 50 thatbacks up against a gasket 5| on the forward face of the breech block 20.This breech plate 50 is carried in a counterbore in the breech body is.

In order to enable the stop 32 to engage the annular shoulder 3| of thesleeve 23 at more than one point, I mayconstruct the yoke as illustratedin Fig. '1. In doing this, I form the yoke with two forks 32a `and 32h,the ends of which are formed with inclined toes 32e that are received ininclined sockets 32d. These sockets 32d are formed in a bow 52 that issecured in the upper side of the breech body I3. When the firing pin 34is returned 'by its spring 31, the inclined toes 32o will cause theupper ends of the forks 32h and 32a to swing inwardly toward the axis ofthe barrel and engage the shoulder. Fig. 7 shows the stop 32 in itspulleddown position in which the sleeve 29 is released, therebypermittingthe sleeve to be moved forwardly by the air pressure in theair chamber 2|, exerting its force against the projectile 22a to expandits seat 26 and cause the projectile to pass through the detent.

The rear end of the barrel 9, is carried in a deep socket in a ring 53that is received in a bore t formed in the forward end of the guide-barrel 33, and this ring 53 has a bore of the same diameter as the boreof the gun barrel and the bore of the guide barrel 23.

The post l5 that projects down from the breech and which operates as ahandle for aiming the gun, is preferably formed of two sections that areclamped together by horizontal bolts 55 which clamp the sections ontoducts 5t and El which come up from the clam-ping head is, and the formerof which carries the projectiles while the latter of which carries thecompressed air. These ducts 56 and 5l! are formed of tubing, and theduct 5t is carried up and received in a socket 58 in the breech block,and is formed with a conical tapered tip 59 that projects into the rearend of the conical bore or opening 26 of the projectile detent 23. Theduct 5l is located toward the rear in the handle or post l5, and extendsup into a reduced rear extension 6B formed at the rear end of the breechblock 2G, at which point it communicates with an air duct 6| which issub-v stantially in axial alignment with the air chamber 2| and theprojectile detent 23; and, of course, this means that it is also in linecoaxially with the guide barrel 33. The rear end of the extension 60 iscovered with a removable screw cap 62 which is provided with 'anadjustablev sight S3.

The clamping head ifi is rigidly secured to the two ducts 56 and 57, andhas an air chamber 66 supplied with air through a plurality of small airpassages 65 that lead in through the clamping face of this clampinghead. The projectile guide or duct 5t extends through this air chamber6A and is rigidly secured in the body of this clamping head it andpreferably in line with the projectile duct 66 that passes through thishead.

The air reservoir and magazine unit will now be described more indetail, together with the valves for controlling the flow of air fromthe reservoir. Referring particularly to Fig. 5, the valved head has athreaded nipple 61 that is screwed into the rear head 68 of thereservoir ii, and in this valved head I mount a pneumatically operatedvalve 69 that operates as a valve closure for an outlet port 'l0 fromthe interior of the reservoir. This valve 69 can be handoperated ifdesired, but I prefer to operate it through the agency of a pilot valve'il that is mounted in a stuing-box 'l2 at one side of the valved headH. When this pilot Valve 'nl is open, it admits air from the passage 13that leads back through the nipple 61, thereby permitting the compressedair to ow back through a passage 14 to a pneumatic device in the form ofa pneumatic cylinder l5 'which operates a piston 16 which is attached tothe stem Tl of the valve 69. The valve stem Tl is provided with a returnspring 18 in the form of a coil. The pilot valve 1| preferably has atapered tip 1S that closes upon a tapered or conical seat 80.

Referring now to Fig. 4, when the valve 69 is open, it permits air toflow in past it as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4. This air iiowsinto a valve chamber 8| and thence outwardly through ports 82 to an airchamber 33 formed in the casing I2, and thence into clamping head it;and the rear wall of the clamping headl has a Iplurality of smallpassages Sli that register with the air passages S5 of the rear clampinghead i6. In this way the compressed air is conducted back through theclamping heads to the air duct 5l.

The rear end of the coil t that constitutes the projectile magazine, isformed with a neck 85 that passes in through the forward side of theclamping head i3 on the axis of this head. rlhis head I3 is constructedsomewhat like the clamping head I8, that is to say, the neck 85 passesthrough the' air chamber 83 and is rigidly sccured in the body of thehead therebeyond, and in a position to align with the duct |36 so thatthis duct 66 can conduct the 'projec- 'tiles through the connected headsinto the projectile duct Uit.

The adjacent faces of the two clamping heads I3 and ifi are correlatedto each other so that they will make an air-tight iit with the gasket 86between the same. the adjacent faces of these heads are formed withannular V-shaped ribs 8l. These ribs are received in correspondinglyformed sockets 38 in the gasket 8B. This gasket is socketed into therear face of the clamping head i3 and is preferably made of yieldingmaterial such as rubber, or similar material.

In order to enable the clamping heads i3 and M to be quickly clampedupto each other, I prefer to provide the disconnectible clampingconnection. il provided with the 'two clamping levers i8 alreadydescribed. The pivot ends of these levers i8 are carried on bolts 3Qbetween two links 90 located in pairs at each side. These links areattached on pivot bolts 9| to laterally projecting lugs 92 on theclamping head i3. These lugs 92 align with corresponding lugs 93projecting out from the sides of the clamping head Ill (see Figs. 1 and5). The heads of the levers |8-have cam faces 9, and in connecting upthe heads the links 9|) are swung around over the lugs 93, and thelevers i8 are then swung inwardly so that their-.free ends lie near thepost or handle grip l5 of the gun. When swung in this way the cam faces96| draw the heads i3 and le tightly together so as to compress thegasket 83 between them.

The apparatus includes means for feeding the projectiles from themagazine through the clamped-up heads i3 and ifi into the duct 56 and upto a point near the air chamber 2|.

kFor thi: purpose I prefer to provide the valved.

head with another valve 95 (see Fig. 5) which, in its open positionshown in Fig. 5, will permit air to iiow from the air reservoir 6through an air passage 96 into a valve chamber 9T that communicatesWith'a passage 98 in the inner head 68 of the reservoir; and this pasage98 communicates with a tube 99 that passes forward to the forward headl, at which point it communicates with a radial passage |00, and thisradial passage |00 communicates with the outer end I0! of the magazinecoil which is anchored at this point in the side Wall of the reservoir,as indicated in Fig. 5. The stem of the valve 95 is provided with aconical tip seating on a conical In the present instanceseat |02. 'I'hisarrangement enables the amount of air admitted to the reservoir to benicely regulated so as to control its effect on the projectiles. Inother Words, by admitting compressed air at the forward end of thereservoir, this air .iiows through the magazine and causes theprojectiles to pass rearwardly toward the gun breech.

The projectiles employed are preferably of round form so that they rollfreely through the coil, and so that -they are not impeded in any vWayin their progress by reason' of the bends in the coil. i

If desired, the gun barrel 9 or the guide barrel may be rifled to givethe projectile a rotation on the longitudinal axis of the barrel. 'Ihebarrel 9 of the gun is enclosed in a tubular housing or shell 9a.

In order to insure that the valve head 69 Will be air-tight to retain ahigh pressure, its outside face is provided with a gasket head 69a ofsoft rubber or similar material. Under action of the pressure this headis mushroomed out so as to seal the crack of the valve. (See Fig. 3.)

When the main admission valve E9 is closed and in the positionillustrated in Fig. 3, no air is l admitted to the air chamber 2| foroperating the gun. By opening the pilot valve 1| (see Fig. 5) air willbe admitted through the ports 13 and 11| into the air cylinder 15, andthis will move the piston 16 toward the left and open the valve 69against its return spring 18. 'This will permit air to flow from theinterior of the reservoir 4 through the air chamber 9|, and thencethrough the ports 82 (see Fig. 4). 'I'his carries the air into the airchamber 83 at the back of the clamping head I3, and from this point theair passes forwardly through the ports 84 and 65 into the air chamber64. From this point the air flows up through the air duct 51 and intothe passage 6| directly back of the air chamber 2|. If the trigger 36 ofthe gun is in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 3, theprojectile 22a on the seat 24 of the projectile detent 23, will not befired because the sleeve 29 in its extreme rear position will preventthe projectile detent from expanding. The spring 38, of course, assistsin holding the sleeve 29 in this position, and counterbalances to alarge extent the pressure of the annular shoulder 3| against the rearface of the stop yoke 32. When the trigger 36 is pulled, the

lever 35 will become depressed and the yoke 32 will be pulled down bythering pin 34 to the position in which it is illustrated in Fig. 4.This will release the sleeve 29 and this will permit the air pressureback of the projectile 22a to force the projectile past its seat 24 andthrough the opening in the projectile detent 23. The ball then passesthrough the tapered guide opening in the sleeve 29 and into -the guidebarrel 33, and thence into the barrel 9 of the gun. As soon as the airpressure back of the projectile 22a is released, the coil spring 38 willreturn the sleeve back to its extreme rear position, thereby compressingthe nave 25 of the projectile detent constricting the opening throughthe same. In other Words, this prepares the seat 24 to receive the nextball, when the sleeve 29 moves into its rearmost position. In this waythe spring 31 of the firing pin will push the yoke 32 up to its holdingposition for the sleeve. In other words, it will move the yoke up infront of the shoulder 3|. This is the operation in firing a singleprojectile,

or one or two projectiles. However, the action will terminate with aball 22a resting on the seat 24 which, of course. operates as a valve toclose of! further flow of air from the air chamber 2| through the gunbarrel. It will be noted that the upper end of the projectile duct 56delivers the balls into the axial line of the air passage 6| in aforwardly inclined direction. 'I'his is desirable because it enables theair flowing through the passage 6| to exert an entraining action on theprojectiles that are located near this point, tending to draw the sameupwardly in succession into the air chamber 2|. This entraining actionon the balls is also enhanced by reason of the fact that the balls inthe duct 56-are surrounded with air, which air is also subjected to anentraining action. This air in the duct 56, however, is a compressed airstream flowing with the projectiles from the magazine to the airchamber, and the amount of this projectile feeding air can be regulatedif desired,y by means of the valve 95.

If it is desired to fire the projectiles continuously from the gun toattain an action similar to that of a machine gun, the trigger 36 ismaintained in its operating position, that is to say, pulled rearwardlyinto the position indicated in Fig. 4. If this is done, more or less ofa reciprocating movement is developed by the action of the passingprojectiles and the reaction of the spring 38. The projectiles will bedriven through the barrel at high velocity, and at short distances fromeach other. In this Way the projectiles ride with the stream of a highvelocity of compressed air iiowing through the barrel. The ballssubstantially fill the bore of the barrel so that there is substantiallyno leakage past the balls as they are driven through the barrel. If

the gun is operated in a horizontal position, of

course the balls tend to roll through the barrel freely, being impelledby the stream of air moving with the balls, and giving the balls theiracceleration and high muzzle velocity. Of course, as the air expandswhen passing to the muzzle of the gun, a certain amount of heat isabsorbed, which'operates to keep the gun cooled. This feature comparesvery favorably with ordinary machine guns, the barrels of which tend tobecome quite hot from rapid firing. There is another advantage in theuse of this gun, which contrasts it most favorably with a gun using anexplosive charge. Where a gun uses an explosive charge, the gas from theexplosion is quickly disseminated into the atmosphere at the muzzle, andthere is no flow of gas other than that lling the barrel at the momentof the explosion; to give a followup propulsion to the projectile. Infact, shortly after the projectile leaves the muzzle of an ordinary gun,the atmosphere exerts a. very marked retarding effect upon the butt endof the projectile, because it is not streamlined. With this pneumaticgun the effect at the discharge of the gun, if the trigger is maintainedin operative position, is to project a stream of air at very highvelocity to a considerable distance ahead of the gun. In this way avirtual lengthening of the gun barrel occurs operating to maintain theacceleration that has been givento the projectile, and at the same time,reducing the commencement of any resistance until the projectile haspassed through the air for a considerable distance beyond the gunmuzzle.

In operating the gun, of course, the projectile feed valve can becracked open as far as desired to give any speed or feed of theprojectiles desired.

asomar the projectiles are all used up, the exhausted reservoir andmagazine unit will be unclamped at the clamping connection i1 andremoved, and a new unit with a compressed air charge and full magazineof projectiles will be immediately substituted and clamped in position.This is accomplished by unclamping the clamp Il; pushing the magazineunit forward to get the clamping head I3 clear of the head id. Thisforward movement is permitted by reason of clearance indicated in thedrawings between the head 'l and the arm il). After the unit is movedclear` of the head I6, the rear end of the unit is swung laterally, andthe neck 8 pulled out of its socket in the end of the arm l0.

Many other embodiments of the invention may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. i

What I claim is:

1. In a gun operated by compressed air, the combination of a breechhaving a compressed air chamber, a barrel in front of the air chamber, acontractible and expansible projectile detent having a substantiallyair-tight seat for the projectile upon which the air pressure holds theprojectile before it passes into the barrel, means for normally holdingthe detent against expanding, and thereby preventing the projectile frompassing, and means oratable at will to release the lastnamed means topermit the detent to expand and release the projectile.

2. In a gun operated by compressed air, the combination of a breechhaving a compressed air chamber, a barrel in front of the air chamber, acontractible and expansible projectile detent having a substantiallyair-tight seat for holding back the projectile and upon which the airpressure holds the projectile before it passes into the barrel, a sleevecoaxial with the barrel normally holding the detent against expanding,means controlled at will for engaging the sleeve and operating whenactuated to permit the sleeve to move and release the projectile.

3. In a gun operated by compressed air, the combination of a breechhaving a compressed air chamber, a barrel in front of the air chamber,

a contractible and expansible projectile detent having a substantiallyair-tight seat for the projectile capable of preventing passage of theprojectile, and upon which the air pressure holds the projectile beforeit passes into the barrel, a sleeve coaxial with the barrel normallyholding the detent against expanding, means controlled at will forengaging the sleeve and operating when actuated to permit the sleeve tomove and release the projectile, and a spring for returning the sleeveto its normal position after the projectile has been released.

4. In a gun operated by compressed air, the combination of a breechhaving a compressed air chamber, a barrel in front of the air chamber, acontractible and expansible projectile detent having a substantiallyair-tight seat for holding back the projectile and upon which the airpressure holds the projectile before it passes into the barrel, a sleevecoaxial with the barrel normally holding the detent against expanding,means controlled at will for engaging the sleeve and operating whenactuated to permit the sleeve to move and release the projectile, aspring for returning the sleeve to its normal position after theprojectile has been released, and means capable of being operated fromthe exterior of the breech for adjusting the said spring.

5. In a pneumatic gun, the combination of a breech having a compressedair chamber, a barrel in front of the air chamber, a projectile detentin the form of a collar with a contractible and expansible nave havingan opening therethrough with a substantially air-tight seat for theprojectile for holding back the projectile, and upon which the airpressure holds the projectile before it passes into the barrel, a sleevecoaxial with the barrel and mounted for movement along the axis of thebarrel and capable in its normal, rear position, of holding the saidnave contracted to hold back the projectile and preventing the same fromexpanding to release the projectile; and a movable stop associated withthe sleeve for normally holding the same in its said rear position andoperating when withdrawn to permit the projectile to pass through thesleeve into the barrel.

6. In a pneumatic gun, the combination of a breech having a compressedair chamber, a barrel in front of the air chamber, a projectile detentin the form of a collar with a contractible and expansible nave havingan opening therethrough with a substantially air-tight seat for theprojectile for detaining the projectile, and upon which the air pressureholds the projectile before it passes into the barrel, a sleeve coaxialwith the barrel and mounted for movement along the axis of the barreland capable in its normal, rear position, of holding the said navecontracted and preventing the same from expanding to release theprojectile; a movable stop associated With the -sleeve for normallyholding the same in its said rear position and operating when withdrawnto to permit the projectile to pass through the sleeve into the barrel;and a coil spring located forward of the sleeve to return the same toits normal, rear position after `the projectile has passed through thebarrel.

7. In a gun operated by compressed air, the

combination of a breech having a compressed air chamber, a barrelinfront of the air chamber, a contractible and expansible projectiledetent having a substantially air-tight seat for the projectile fordetaining the projectile, and upon which the air pressure holds theprojectile before it passes into the barrel, means for normally holdingthe detent contracted and against expanding, means operatable at will torelease the last-named means to permit the detent to expand and releasethe projectile, means for guiding the projectiles in succession into theair chamber, and means for admitting a compressed air current into therear of the air chamber on a line substantially coaxial with the barrel.

8. In a gun operated by compressed air, the combination of a breechhaving a compressed air chamber, a barrel in front of the air chamber, acontractible and expansible projectile detent having a substantiallyair-tight seat for detaining the projectile and upon which the airpressure holds the projectile before it passes into. the barrel, aprojectile duct leading upwardly from below into the air chamber, and anadmission duct for the compressed air back of the air chamber foradmitting a current of compressed air into the air chamber substantiallycoaxially with the barrel.

9. In a pneumatic gun, the combination of a breech, a barrel extendingforwardly therefrom, said breech having an air chamber therein, a

compressed air reservoir located under the barrel, a magazine for theprojectiles associated with the compressed air reservoir, a projectileduct leading from the magazine and passing upwardly into the air chamberfrom the rear, and having a forwardly disposed curved delivery endterminating with its axis substantially tangent to, and coinciding with,the axis of the barrel for delivering the projectiles in succession intothe same by a movement along the axis of the barrel and toward themuzzle of the barrel, means for controlling the release of theprojectiles into the barrel, said breech having a duct for admitting acurrent of compressed air into the rear of the air chamber and on a linesubstantially coaxial with the said barrel.

10. In a pneumatic gun, the combination of a breech, a barrel extendingforwardly therefrom, said breech having an air chamber therein, acompressed air reservoir located under the barrel, said reservoir beingof substantially cylindrical form with its axis extending substantiallyparallel with the axis of the barrel, a magazine for the projectilesconsisting of a coil of tubing encircling the reservoir, and aprojectile duct leading from the delivery end of the magazine andpassing upwardly into the air chamber having a curved forwardly disposeddelivery end terminating with its axis substantially tangent to, andcoinciding with, the axis of the barrel for delivering the projectilesin succession into the same by a movement along the axis of thebarreland toward the. muzzle.

11. In a pneumatic gun, the combination of a breech, a barrel extendingforwardly therefrom, said breech having an air chamber therein, acompressed air reservoir located under the barrel, said reservoir beingof substantially cylindrical form with its axis extending substantiallyparallel with the axis of the barrel, a. magazine for the projectilesconsisting of a coil of tubing encircling the reservoir, a projectileduct leading from the delivery end of the magazine and passing upwardlyinto the air chamber having a curved forwardly disposed delivery endterminating with its axis substantially tangent to, and coinciding with,the axis of the barrel for delivering the projectiles in succession intothe same by a movement along the axis of the barrel and toward itsmuzzle, and means for admitting compressed air from the reservoir intothe forward end of the magazine for assisting the forward feedingmovement of the projectiles in the magazine.

12. In a pneumatic gun, the combination of a breech, a barrel extendingforwardly therefrom, said breech having an air chamber therein, a postextending down from the breech, a duct for projectiles in said post fordelivering the projectiles into the air chamber, acompressed air ductalso located in the said post, said breech having an air ductcommunicating with the air duct in the post, and extending forwardlyinto the air chamber on an axis substantially coinciding with the axisof the barrel; a clamping head carried by the lower end of said post,said clamping head having compressed air passages therein communicatingwith the said air duct of the post and having a duct therein for guidingthe projectiles; and a compressed air reservoir with a projectilemagazine associated therewith, and having a clamping head to clamp upagainst said first-named clamping head to enable compressed air from thereservoir to be delivered up through the air duct in the post, and toenable the projectiles to pass through the clamped-up heads into theprojectile duct in the post. 13. In a pneumatic gun, the combination ofa breech.- a barrel extending forwardly therefrom, a compressed airreservoir mounted under the barrel, amagazine for projectiles associatedwith the rservoir, a valved head at the rear-end of the reservoir, apost extending down from the breech, said post; having an air duct andaprojectile duct leading up through the same into the breech, means foreffecting a connection from the magazine to the said magazine duct,including a valve in the valved read for enabling compressed air to beadmitted from the reservoir into the magazine to assist the forwardfeeding movement of the projectiles; and means for effecting aconnection from the interior of the reservoir to the air duct in thesaid post, including a valve ln the valved head for controlling the flowof the air from the reservoir.

14. In a pneumatic gun, the combination of a breech, a barrel extendingforwardly therefrom, a post extending down from the breech, a duct insaid post for delivering the projectiles into the breech, a clampinghead carried by said post at a lower level than said breech, a magazinefor the projectiles located forward of the post and having a clampinghead to seat against the first-named clamping head, said clamping headshaving communicating ducts therethrough for guiding the projectiles fromthe magazine into the post, and clamping means associated with saidclamping heads at each side thereof, and including levers mounted toswing on a substantially horizontal axis and capable of assuming alocking-position for the clamping heads with the clamping levers locatedadjacent to said post.

15. In a pneumatic gun, the combination of a breech, a barrel extendingforwardly therefrom, a compressed air reservoir mounted under thebarrel, a magazine for projectiles associated with the reservoir, avalved head at the rear end of the reservoir, a post extending down fromthe breech, said post having an air duct and a projectile duct leadingup through the same into the breech, means for effecting a connectionfrom the magazine with the said magazine duct, including a valve foradmitting air from the magazine to the duct, with pneumatic means foroperating the same; and a pilot valve for controlling the pneumaticmeans.

16. In a gun operated by compressed air, the combination of a breechhaving a compressed air chamber, a barrel in front of the air chamber,an expansible projectile detent having a substantially air-tight seatfor the projectile for detaining the projectile, and upon which the airpressure holds the projectile before it passes into the barrel, a.sleeve coaxial with the barrel normally holding the detent againstexpanding, means controlled at will for engaging the sleeve andoperating when actuated to permit the sleeve to move and release theprojectile, and a spring for returning the sleeve to its normal positionafter a projectile has been released and passed into the barrel andcooperating with the said means operatable at will, to discharge theprojectiles in rapid succession as long as the said means operatable atwil1 is held in its releasing position for the projectiles.

17. In a pneumatic gun, the combination of a breech having a compressedair chamber, a barrel forward of the air chamber, an expansibleprojectile detent having a substantially airtight seat for theprojectile for detaining the projectile, and upon which the air pressurein the air chamber holds the projectile before it passes along thebarrel, a sleeve coaxial with the barrel normally holding the detentagainst expanding, said sleeve having a shoulder thereon, a movable stopfor engaging the shoulder of the sleeve to hold the same in its normalposition; and a trigger operatable at will to withdraw the movable stop,thereby permitting the sleeve t0 move forward so as to release theprojectile from the said detent. l

18. In a pneumatic gun, the combination of a breech having a compressedair chamber, a barrel forward of the air chamber, an expansibleprojectile detent having a substantially air-tight seat for theprojectile detaining the projectile,

and' upon which the air pressure in the air chamber holds the projectilebefore it passes along the barrel, a sleeve coaxial with the barrelnormally holding the detent against expanding, said sleeve having anannular shoulder thereon, a movable stop in the form of a yoke forengaging the shoulder of the sleeve to hold the same 1n its normalposition; and a trigger with means operated thereby for moving themiddle portion of the yoke inwardly toward the axis of the sleeve; andmeans cooperating with the forks of the yoke for moving the sameinwardly when the yoke is actuated to engage the annular shoulder atother points adjacent the ends of the forks.

WILLIAMRHALE.

